Thursday 17 November 2022

Thursday, November 17, 2022

 You know, as I was typing that really creative title, it occurred to me that it’s something I’ve done almost daily for 31 years. I started by printing in white chalk, or sometimes coloured chalk if it was close to a holiday, on a blackboard. Later, I used dry erase markers on a white board. Every day, Monday to Friday, and if I had grade four that year, I also wrote it in cursive. Grade four or late grade three is when students learn how to write versus print, although I wonder if that will change altogether with everyone using keyboards or other forms of technology to communicate. 

I remember really working on my “ hand writing “, deciding what I wanted my signature to look like. You could tell who wrote what according to their writing style. Will young kids even do that anymore? But that isn’t even what I was going to post about. 

It’s been snowing gently on and off and it’s quite pretty. It makes me feel all cozy and Christmas-y. I could even start decorating but alas, my back (s.i.joint pain- my old nemesis ) is making some things rather tough at the moment. I blame this on having to sleep in awkward positions and lack of movement during my cancer ordeal and subsequent recovery. However, it’s nothing that targeted stretches and Physio appointments won’t solve.

Yesterday and today I’ve been enjoying my new read.


I’ve read Osman’s first two books in this series and I’ve gotten to really like the characters. 

I like to be in the den on days like these as the wood stove has been kept burning and it’s such a nice spot. 


Ignore the ashes that haven’t been swept up yet. It’s kind of an ongoing task. We chose that cream coloured stove years ago and it’s one of my favourite things in our old house.

As I’m typing this, husband is watching a video on YouTube about the making of the movie, The Battle of Britain. He adores movies like that, almost as much as he adores Hammer films (old Dracula and various other monster movies). Our daughter jokes that it’s like her dad is studying for a test on World War II. 

I’m not so much of a movie person. I watch more tv shows than my husband does. My slightly ADHD brain is better with hour long mysteries that I can fast forward through the commercials. He also has favourite movies that he enjoys watching over and over again. The only ones that I can do that with are funny Christmas ones and Monty Python movies.

We have, however, found common ground in watching the newest season on The Crown on Netflix. I realize it’s likely not completely accurate, but I like it regardless. 

And there you have what’s floating around in my brain on this snowy November day. 

28 comments:

  1. I like any movie or series that's WW2 related too. Your wood stove looks very cozy. I also love the scent of a wood stove.

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  2. I like the randomness of this post. For years I could hardly ever watch a movie, but a couple years after retirement I began catching up on years of missed films. But like you I still prefer a series where I can watch a chapter at a time.

    My husband has watched some movies at least 20 times! I tell him the ending will still be the same!

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    1. Husband analyzes them, studies them, knows who all the actors are and what other war movies they were in... He took film (not his primary focus, though) in university. Maybe he's still studying for that test, too.

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  3. I enjoy blog posts like this one of yours . . . when a blogger writes regarding their every day life happenings and/or what's floating around in their brains. I don't ever think such things are uninteresting or boring. So, thanks!

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  4. I'm not a teacher, but also wonder about whether kids will write at all anymore in today's technical age. There's something personal about writing in cursive and letters written that way... that typing on a computer can't match. But maybe that's just me. I have to admit that the typing is faster and I write my stories on the laptop these days. But I used to do that in longhand and it took my brain a while to adapt.
    And I also love having a fire on a cold winter's day... and am also watching The Crown (new season) and enjoying it. And I think it's not really accurate either... but interesting.

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  5. My grandmother had a rocking chair beside her wood burner, and a kettle humming away on Top. These days I've recreated that setting in my house too. Most mornings I'm there reading.
    My grandson, age 23, has never learned to write cursive. His "signature" is nothing. It looks like pitman shorthand symbols!
    We only have a dusting of snow.

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    1. Son is 22, and admits he never really learned how to write cursive and was a bit embarrassed the first time he had to sign for something. I think the snow is more south than north right now.

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  6. I've been watching The Crown too and feeling slightly guilty about enjoying it! I miss our wood burner that we had in France (although Paul doesn't miss chopping logs).

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    1. A lot of our wood comes from trees on our property or the neighbour's property that had to come down or parts of them came down in wind storms. Husband uses the chainsaw, and we rented a wood splitter for a weekend.

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  7. I have the 3rd Thursday Murder Club book on request at the library. I like to envision how my Gran would have fit it with the silver foxes. Wood fires have a wonderful way of warming right through to the bones. I chuckled at your daughter's comment about studying for an exam. ... Mary-Lou =^[..]^=

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  8. Lovely post Jenn, so peaceful. Perfect reading for this morning. The daylight is growing outside our windows, showing all the tree branches lined in white, the fire is murmuring away, second cup of tea is brewing.

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  9. That wood stove is really nice! Looks like a cozy space to enjoy some time in. My husband and I get into periods of enjoying movies about WW2. We just recently went through that period. I think we're done for a while!

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  10. I don't know how much cursive writing is taught in school these days. Both of my children (35 and 40) were taught it, but my son tends to print everything except his signature. About 5 years ago we had a couple of young students in our office on work terms and they had to ask for assistance when they received a hand written letter - they couldn't read the cursive writing at all.
    I dealt with sciatica a couple of months ago and I would never wish that on my worst enemy. Thankfully with a couple of chiropractic treatments and at home stretching the pain was almost entirely resolved in a couple of weeks. Good luck with yours.

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    1. Sciatica is a different thing than s.i. joint pain (sacroiliac joint). Mine gets "locked up" and then messes with other muscles (piriformis). It's kind of a chronic thing with me, from years of gardening maybe?? I'm back seeing my physiotherapist who is wonderful, but it is a bit of a process. This too shall pass. But yes, sciatica is nasty!!

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  11. I have still not watched The Crown but have it on my list. I am not a big movie person either-preferring shorter versions in a series. Love your stove and can almost feel the heat radiating from it. Have a wonderful weekend. xo Diana

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  12. I love a crackling fire. I grew up in a drafty old house and despite it having an oil furnace, the house never felt warm enough on winter days without logs in the woodstove. These days, I love the convenience of my gas fireplace but I will always remain enamoured with real log burning fires. I feel cozy just looking at yours.

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  13. Sadly, writing in cursive is a lost skill. I think this is a big loss. Typing is fast and maybe students are able to produce text more quickly but to eliminate cursive writing is a mistake. I recently questioned teachers and they said they had no time to teach cursive writing. A snowy day is lovely and sitting with a good book with your wood stove blazing sounds great. We've only had a dusting about a week ago. I do hope for lots of snow this winter.

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    1. Oh, no doubt they don’t have the time. More is always added to the curriculums but rarely is anything taken away. Also, cursive writing does not produce data like language and math does. If it can’t be measured and put on a graph, it is of little importance in education.

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  14. Although I like going to the cinema I am not keen on watching films at home, I lack the patience in my own front room as you describe although I have one or two favourites that I will watch over and over again when there is nothing else that appeals to me. You sound like you both had a relaxing time. I have not read the latest Richard Osman book yet although I have read the first two which I enjoyed. x

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    1. And I rarely go to the cinema as you put it. We would say we are going out to the movies. The closest movie theatre is 50 minutes drive away and too expensive if we both go and want a drink or a snack ( although we have smuggled food in a big purse before). I think if we lived in the city, my husband would want to go much more often.

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  15. Hi Jenn...I just finished the first show with your fellow Canadian and my new boyfriend Dan Levy. It was pretty good. I am also loving Renovation Island. Are you a Doc Martin fan? I am so sorry that it's ending this season. I've never read a book by Richard Osman but I put him on my download list. Hope your back feels better soon. xx

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  16. I loved The Crown -- raced through it and will probably watch it again with Rick. I haven't been to a movie theatre in ages. Since Covid. I like movies and docs like the one your husband was watching (and WWII stuff, too, which baffles Rick.)

    I hope the Osmun is as good as the others! I loved the first two and the characters are wonderful.

    Your words about your writing reminded me of my sixth grade report card. The teacher said my handwriting wasn't consistent -- sometimes backhand, sometimes not. I had to laugh because it was like that for decades. And sometimes still is. Tall/narrow/tight letters; big swooping letters; rounded and very precise; loose and dramatic! At least I finally settled on a legal signature! It seems like I was a writing chamelion. If I saw enough in a letter or admired a friend's writing, pretty soon I was writing the same way. Looking at my old journals is a trip!

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  17. I have that book on hold at my library but it is very popular right now so I have a bit of a wait.
    My Mom made me stay after school and practice with one of the nuns at my elementary school so that I would have better handwriting. And I still do, usually, unless I am in a hurry or writing a note to my grandkids who can't read cursive!

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  18. I wonder how many of our children will use cursive for anything but their signatures. I know what I was an aide, they would write their names and print all else (or use the computer and Word).

    God bless.

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  19. Good for the mister for his wanting to learn things!
    I envy you that stove - and the blustery day.

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  20. Your home looks and sounds so very cozy. I HOPE we never lose cursive writing! I could never pay attention to the movies that your honey watches; they might easily put me to sleep. :)
    I hope you get some better rest very soon.

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  21. My grandmother taught fourth grade. I so remember her chalkboard with lines on it. She would have students copy Laura Ingalls Wilder books. Now my students can't even read cursive.

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  22. Up to 1972, I wrote on a chalkboard., but was relieved to move to dry erase. I always instructed students in cursive, and they did well. I always wondered about those who didn't learn that.

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